Chicago City Wire

Chicago Red Stars midfielder Cari Roccaro has been named the club’s nominee for the 2024 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide. The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced all 14 nominees today, recognizing their outstanding service and character off the pitch.

The Lauren Holiday Impact Award, newly reformatted to highlight players making a difference in their communities, honors the legacy of two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Lauren Holiday. The award recognizes excellence and commitment in community service.

Roccaro's nomination stems from her work with the Chicago chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Chicago). By openly sharing her own mental health struggles, Roccaro has become an advocate for mental health awareness among athletes. She played a significant role in incorporating mental health leave into the collective bargaining agreement between the NWSL and the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA). Outside of her league duties, Roccaro hosts "Butterfly Road," a podcast aimed at destigmatizing conversations about mental health in sports. She also participated in the Chicago Sky’s “Block the Negativity, Post Up Positivity” panel on mental health.

“I’m incredibly excited to partner with NAMI Chicago again and make an impact in a space that is so personal to me,” said Roccaro. “Everyone can benefit from better mental health resources, and it’s awesome knowing that I’ve been able to play a role in helping NAMI make a bigger difference in people’s lives by sharing a bit of my story and giving others hope for the future.”

In line with this recognition, Roccaro partnered with NAMI Chicago to promote ‘Ending the Silence,’ a program with Boys and Girls Club of Chicago aimed at breaking down stigmas around mental healthcare. During this initiative, Roccaro shared her personal journey and engaged with participants about using her platform for mental health awareness.

Roccaro and NAMI Chicago will be honored during the Red Stars’ match on September 21, where NAMI Chicago will receive a $5,000 donation from the league and Nationwide.

Fans will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite player nominee starting October 1. The nominee receiving the most votes will gain additional funds to donate to their community partner or another organization of their choice.

A panel including Lauren Holiday and representatives from Nationwide, NWSL, NWSL Players Association, and NWSL Media Association will select one overall winner who will receive $30,000 for charity designation. The winner will be announced during Championship Week leading up to the 2024 NWSL Championship presented by Google Pixel. All nominees will be honored as part of these celebrations.

For more information on Cari Roccaro, NAMI Chicago, and the Lauren Holiday Impact Award visit [link].

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